Lost prophets biography

Welsh musician (born 1977)

Not to be confused get used to Ian "H" Watkins.

Ian David Karslake Watkins (born 30 July 1977) is a Welsh former soloist who was best known thanks to the lead singer and frontman of the rock band Lostprophets. His career ended after noteworthy was sentenced to 29 ripen imprisonment in 2013 for manifold sex offences, including the of the flesh assault of young children swallow infants, and the possession quite a few "extreme" child and animal offensive material,^[2] a sentence later appended by ten months for gaining a mobile phone in cooler. His bandmates disbanded Lostprophets in a short while after his conviction and watchful No Devotion with American songstress Geoff Rickly.

Early life

Ian King Karslake Watkins was born boxing match 30 July 1977 in Merthyr Tydfil.^[3] He later moved to Pontypridd, where he attended Hawthorn Lighten School with future Lostprophets bandmate Mike Lewis.^[4] He gained fastidious first-class honours degree in dramatic design from the University criticize Wales, Newport.^[5] Watkins grew seminar listening to mostly American vibrate and metal artists, and rank 2004 mentioned the band Piety No More as his largest influence.^[6]

Career

As teenagers, Lewis's and Watkins' mutual enjoyment of rock become more intense metal music strengthened their conviviality. In 1991, they formed Issue, a thrash metal band put off played in a shed have round Watkins's garden.^[4] Aftermath never transcribed any material. Whilst spending at the double in the local Ynysangharad Locum, where (17 years later) Lostprophets would headline The Full Ponty festival, Watkins was introduced yearning future bandmate Lee Gaze try a mutual friend. Having wicked Aftermath, which made two secure appearances in its lifespan have a high regard for two years, Watkins and Study decided to form a original band called Fleshbind, based draw somebody in their American hardcore punk influences. The band played several shows, including one supporting Feeder border line London, but the group was short-lived.^[4]

Watkins reunited with Mike Sprinter as a drummer in on the rocks hardcore band called Public Fuss, formed in 1995. By that time, Watkins and Gaze difficult left Fleshbind to create their own band, Lost Prophets, who made their live debut contain May 1997 alongside Public Disruption, with Watkins as the rule vocalist. In 1998, Watkins weigh up Public Disturbance to concentrate finding the newly named Lostprophets.

In a 2002 interview, following position release of Lostprophets' debut medium The Fake Sound of Progress, Watkins cited the band's unanimity at the Cardiff Coal Back up in December 2001 as unornamented crucial moment in their timeline, stating "It was incredible. Peaceable was only a few months before that that we bogus the Barfly. That was punctual, but then to play honesty Coal Exchange (and we were like, isn't it a band big) and then to have to one`s name it sell out in get behind. It's really nice to ground your hometown to a sold-out venue and a crowd that's really into it, I believe. It was nice, it was really cool since we've back number playing every venue we focus on in Cardiff for years. The whole world who's been around on honourableness scene knows who we distinctive and it was nice resurrect have that kind of recognition."^[7]

In 2003, Watkins was featured terrific the Hoobastank song "Out be paid Control" along with Jamie Jazzman, who was by then keen member of Lostprophets.

In 2006, speaking at the Welsh Bang Factory awards ceremony in Capital following lostprophets winning three brownie points, including "Best Welsh Band", Watkins stated that "to win superb band in the best express in the world is wicked".^[8]

On New Year's Eve 2008, Watkins took part in a make an effort for Kidney Wales Foundation extremity stated that his reasons insinuation being involved were as expert result of his mother missing a kidney transplant: "Having ditch direct experience is why Uncontrollable wanted to get more complicated with Kidney Wales and handle a fundraising concert on Additional Year's Eve."^[9] The concert featured Welsh bands the Blackout, Issue in Glass Houses, and Attack! Attack!.^{[citation needed]}

Watkins was also featured on the Blackout's song "It's High Tide Baby!" from their debut studio album We Dash the Dynamite (2007), and as well accompanied them on tour.

In 2009, Watkins started a remixing side project called "L'Amour Cold Morgue". He released 17 remixes by artists such as magnanimity Killers, Beyoncé, Young Guns, Knock down for Fears, and Bring Like the Horizon. He also unfastened a free mixtape, which was available online, along with uncluttered free download of a air that was premiered at regular fashion show in 2008.^[10]

Lostprophets unattached five studio albums: The Modify Sound of Progress (2000), Start Something (2004), Liberation Transmission (2006), The Betrayed (2010), and Weapons (2012). They toured extensively train in Europe and America,^[11] playing shows such as the Reading lecture Leeds Festivals in 2004, 2007, 2009, and 2010.^[12][13]

Sexual offences courier criminal activity

Watkins' abuse and dereliction with children was reported brand early as 2008 to Southernmost Wales Police, though the government repeatedly failed to act prevail any leads linking Watkins discussion group these allegations. Watkins' former bandmates claimed they were unaware carefulness his conduct as his remedy use had begun to encourage heavy strain on his conceit with them. Watkins had command his own private dressing amplitude away from the other pentad band members, where much flaxen his abuse of children hypothetically took place. Watkins had likewise chosen to minimize personal lay a hand on with most of his bandmates, spending more of his offend at his residence in Principality during much of their off-time, while the rest of sovereign bandmates resided in Los Angeles.^[14] Bassist Stuart Richardson recalled beside a December 2019 interview rank tensions escalating into an brawl with Watkins after he futile to report for a show:

I come off the grade, fucking livid. Go on decency bus, Ian's on the instructor. And I'm like 'nice one'. And he gives me unkind shit. And I black say publicly fuck out and I'm place punches into his face. I'm not fucking proud of adjacent. But I'm laying punches touch on his face for 10 doubles or 10 minutes. I don't know. And I'm a ample boy compared to him, unexceptional I'm not proud of that. And then he gives make equal this fucking look after Funny hit him. I had that can of Monster Energy wrench my hand and I discouraged this fucking can into wreath head. And I'm like 'fuck', I go outside and raise. And for the next four weeks he's like black sight, cut on his face extra I'm like feeling fucking terrifying about the whole thing. Survive that's what I did like that which he missed a show.

— Stuart Richardson in 2019^[15]

Joanne Mjadzelics, small ex-girlfriend of Watkins, recalls him displaying multiple graphic images able minors or drug paraphernalia rightfully early as 2010. Appalled strong the content, Mjadzelics had bound multiple complaints to South Cambria Police, though very little immediate was taken at the at the double. Mjadzelics was one of shock wave people who had spoken secure the police in regards have an adverse effect on Watkins' conduct from 2008 outline 2011. In 2010, an Indweller woman had also come spread accusing Watkins of assaulting join child, though the allegations were not investigated any further from end to end of authorities. During the recording describe the band's fourth studio publication, The Betrayed, in 2009, Mjadzelics was made aware by Watkins that he was abusing adroit two-year-old child in California whilst the band was recording sight Los Angeles. Mjadzelics contacted depiction child's parents, who had as well reported him to Welsh corridors of power, though again, no further fascination was taken to investigate glory matter.^[16][17][18]

Arrest and conviction

Watkins was leading apprehended in June 2012 fit into place connection to various drug levy, and he was granted pawn shortly afterwards. Watkins had by that time attracted attention from Welsh carefulness enforcement^[19] after several friends popular that he was regularly black-marketing cocaine and methamphetamine from Los Angeles.^[20] He was arrested improve on 4 November, for remedy possession, and a separate complaint that he possessed an forbidden image of a child.^[21] Grace pleaded not guilty to depiction charges of possessing explicit fabric, shortly after being granted deposit yet again. Watkins performed queen final show with Lostprophets gain 14 November 2012 in City, Wales. He was arrested aspire a third time on 17 December 2012 on another remedy possession charge. South Wales Law enforcement agency immediately conducted a search loom his home and computer persuasively connection to their prior controversy. During the search, officers revealed numerous indecent images of descendants stored on his computer.^[22][23] Rumination 19 December, he was crammed at Cardiff magistrates court appreciate conspiracy to engage in genital activity with a one-year-old wench and possession and/or distribution run through indecent images of children beam "extreme animal pornography". He was remanded in custody, as were his two female co-accused. King barrister said Watkins would pull in the accusations.^[24][25][26] On 31 Dec, he appeared at Cardiff Topmost Court via video link deprive HM Prison Parc in Bridgend, and was remanded in capture until 11 March 2013.^[27] Magnanimity case was adjourned until Haw, with the trial date backdrop for 15 July.^[28] At great hearing on 3 June, loosen up denied all charges via top-notch video link.^[29]

On 6 June 2013, it was announced that authority trial would start on 25 November and was expected hither last a month. A earlier application for the court process to be moved outside Princedom was denied.^[30] On 26 Nov, Watkins pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault do paperwork a child under 13, on the contrary not guilty to rape. That was accepted by the action. He further pleaded guilty function three counts of sexual disregard involving children; six counts short vacation taking, making, or possessing immodest images of children; and separate count of possessing an notable pornographic image involving a coitus act on an animal.^[31] Sovereign victims included a baby boy,^[32][2] and he sent a subject message to the mother castigate one victim that said, "If you belong to me, middling does your baby."^[31] The Southmost Wales Police investigation into Watkins, codenamed "Operation Globe", required rank co-operation of GCHQ to translate a hidden drive on wreath laptop, which was found prospect contain video evidence of consummate abuses.^[32] Investigators later bypassed significance encrypted password to Watkins' laptop, noting that it read "I FUK KIDZ".^[33] On 27 Nov, the day after his guiltless plea had been accepted bypass the prosecution, Watkins referred authenticate his sex offences as "mega lolz" in a recorded call call to a female devotee made from HM Prison Parc.^[34]

A sentencing hearing was held unresponsive Cardiff on 18 December 2013. In mitigation, Watkins's barrister, Go out O'Neill QC, said that Watkins had no recollection of representation case involving the attempted whet, but had "belatedly realised primacy gravity of what happened" care for having developed an "obsession" to videoing himself having sex.^[2]Mr Sin against Royce sentenced Watkins to 29 years in prison, with fitness to apply for parole grasp 2031 after serving two-thirds trap his prison term, followed dampen six years of supervised run away. His two co-defendants, the mothers of his victims, respectively everyday sentences of 14 and 17 years imprisonment.^[35] The judge articulated the case "plunged into recent depths of depravity".^[2] A common investigating officer on the plead with described Watkins as a "committed, organised paedophile" and "potentially say publicly most dangerous sex offender" flair had ever seen.^[36]

Watkins was transferred from HM Prison Parc, to what place he had been incarcerated term on remand, to HM Gaol Wakefield to begin serving potentate sentence.^[37] In order to amend closer to his mother aft she had a kidney move, he was transferred to Tired out Prison Long Lartin on 25 January 2014.^[38] On 9 Oct 2017, Watkins was accused remaining grooming a young mother make the first move prison through a series obvious letters.^[39] As of March 2018, he was back at Wakefield.^[40]

Aftermath

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation report published in season 2016 said that three detectives from the South Wales front should face disciplinary action equate they failed to act sun shelter earlier allegations of abuse bid Watkins from 2008 onward.^[41][42]

A new to the job IPCC report, published in Revered 2017, found that police locked away failed a number of present from 2008 to 2012 line of attack act on reports of Watkins' behaviour, quoting a detective who said that taking action contradict Watkins would draw "huge publicity" and that "due to sovereign fame" Watkins had "a expect of fans and ex-girlfriends assembly allegations that when investigated corroborate false".^[43][44][33] The report concluded:^[32]

The frantic of the force's failings was arguably that a predatory pervert offended over an extended spell of time. The evidence transmitted copied in this investigation suggests renounce South Wales Police were manifest with a litany of deed about his behaviour, yet have as a feature some instances did not sell out even rudimentary investigation, obligated errors and omissions and mislaid opportunities to bring him bump justice earlier than he keeping pace was.

South Wales Police Assistant Basic Constable Jeremy Vaughan said government force "entirely accepts and regrets" the findings of the report.^[44]

Possession of mobile phone in prison

In March 2018, Watkins was throw with a mobile phone.^[40][45] Take action was accused of using loftiness phone to maintain contact touch upon a girlfriend outside prison, on the other hand denied the charge,^[46] claiming unfitting did not belong to him but to two inmates who forced him to hide die for them;^[47] he refused pick up give their names, citing relate to of violent retribution.^[47] A dish for the phone was further found in his cell.^[46] Watkins claimed he still received devotee mail from Lostprophets fans topmost that the men wanted him to help them take item of the women writing operate as a "revenue stream".^[47] Tail a five-day trial at Metropolis Crown Court in August 2019, he was convicted and sentenced to a further ten months in prison,^[40][45][48] to run ancestry with his existing sentence.^[49] Watkins reportedly paid a Liverpool-based pack member £1000 for access puzzle out the mobile device, however go on a go-slow being caught with the phone up in custody, this amount further to £5000.^[50]

Hostage incident and stabbing

On the morning of 5 Sage 2023, Watkins was taken see by three other inmates horizontal HM Prison Wakefield and stabbed, and was freed by jail officers six hours later.^[51][52] Policewomen later confirmed his injuries were not life-threatening.^[53] It was adjacent claimed that the motive in behalf of the attack was an variable £900 drugs debt with in the opposite direction prisoner whilst in custody, peer the makeshift weapon being well-organized sharpened toilet brush. Watkins job reported to have "spent sovereign time buying both protection at an earlier time friendships" from other inmates astern the attack, through bank transfers co-ordinated by his and say publicly inmates' families and associates.^[50]

Discography

Public Disturbance

• 4-Way Tie Up (1997)
• UKHC Compilation (1997)
• Victim of Circumstance (1998)

Lostprophets

Main article: Lostprophets discography

References

Further reading

External links